Is it Ethical to Manage Baboons in South African Pine Plantations by Culling?

Is it Ethical to Manage Baboons in South African Pine Plantations by Culling?

For the third consecutive year, I will be attending a baboon management workshop in South Africa. I need something more than my own opinion, which has changed over the past three years.

Here is some background and I am trying mightily not to slant it one way or the other.

FACT: Baboons are causing catastrophic damage to pine plantations owned and operated by international forestry companies in South Africa.

FACT: Logging is crucial to South African economy and provides jobs for local people.

FACT: Baboons are primates and part of our “family tree”

FACT: Baboons exhibit intelligence

FACT: Baboons are not “managed” in South Africa, the way we would manage buffalo or deer or other wildlife.

FACT: Baboons have no special wildlife protected status in South Africa. I some cases they are considered “vermin” because there are so many of them.

FACT: For three years forestry companies have tried alternatives to culling (killing) certain animals to reduce population in managed pine plantations. It has not worked and damage has escalated in some areas.

FACT: Animal rights activists are opposed to culling.

Poll question:

Is it ethical to manage the baboon population by culling (killing)?

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